Sheet-feeding machine



July 28, 1925. 1,548,000

0. FINIGAN SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 'July 28, 1925. 1,548,000

C. FINIGAN SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1925. 1,548,000

C. FINIG AN SHE-ET FEEDING MACHINE I i Filed Nov. 22 1924 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 60 F? 6. .39 PI H 9. .19. 4 6K8 dd 41 fix i 40 w AI H I 5% E I? I I E E .16 f .16- 5 1'0 7 it '5 Ram 12 E 5: 0: v

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Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED stares CHARLES FINIGAN, or cmsomh, rnnnsvnvama.

sneer-ammo monmn.

Application filed November 22, 1924. Serial No. 751,552.

has for its principal objects, the provision of..-

improved means, whereby the plates may be fed from the pack at a high rate of speed and whereby the separation of the top sheet from the pack therebeneath is insured, so 'that when operating at even a high rate of speed, only asingle sheet is separated and fed forward in each case; A further'object is the provision of means whereby packs con taining a maximum number of sheetsmay be handled by the vertical liftin device, and whereby the packs may be shi ed ontheir bases from transfer trucks to such device conveniently and rapidly, thus reducing the labor of looking after the machine to a minimum, and also reducing to a minimum the time .lost b the machine while a fresh pack of plates 1s being placed upon the lifting device after the pack upon such device has been exhausted. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of .the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking at the right side of themachine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line III-III of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a plan view. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation. Fig. 6 is an end elevation looking at the left side of the ma chine of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 4. Fi 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the e ectrical connections. And Figs) and 10 are detail views of. the adjustable crank employed, Fig. 10 being a section on theline X--X of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, 1, 2 are side plates of the machine, 3 is a transverse connecting plate at the base of the side plates,

and 4 and 5 are a pair of Wood bars or' tie members extending transversely of the side plates at their upper ends. The side plate 1 i5 is, provided with a pair of brackets 6 and 7 for supporting the motor 8 and the air plates 10 through the side, such' pack being shown as supported on a standard wood base made up of the boards 11 secured to the transverse bars;12. The base with its pack of p ates is brought to this position on a truck, and transfer-red to the elevating brackets 13, 13, such brackets being provided with end portions 14, 14, guided for vertical movement in suitable guideways 15, 15 and provided with vertical threaded openings, through which the feed screws 1.6and 17 extend. These screws are supported in suitable thrust bearings 18, 1 8 attheir lower ends, and in the bearings 19, 19 '(Fig. 3) adjacent their upper ends, and serve by their rotation, as hereinafter described, to feed the pack upward step by step as the top sheets are removed one after the other.

Forward of the machine is the table 20, or other transfer means, leading to the coating or lithographing machine, in which the plates of the pack are to be decorated or coated, and in line withthe upper surface of such transfer means or table are the usual feed rolls 21 and 22. The rolls 21 (Fig.1) are mounted on the driven shaft 23 ournalled at its ends in the-side plates 1 and 2, while the rolls 22 are mounted on a pair of arms 24 (Fig. 3). These arms are secured to the rod 25, also mounted at its ends in the side plates 1 and 2. The shaft 23 carries at its'end a spur gear 26, which is drivenfrom a pinion 27 (Fig. 1) carried by the shaft of the motor 8. p

Extending transversely of the machine above the pack 10, adjacent its forward side (Fig. 3), is the shaft 28, which carries the electro-magnet 29, provided with the core 30, having the adjustable tips 31, 31. The shaft 28 is mounted in bearing blocks 32. -This shaft is provided with a gear 34 at its end meshing with the gear26.

The feed screws 16 and 17, by means of which the pack 10 is lifted step by ste are driven from another transverse sha t 35 journalled in the side plates Land 2, and carrying at its ends the bevel gears 36, 36, which engage the gears 37, 37 carried at the upper ends of'the screws. U on one end of the shaft is secured the rat at wheel 88 1,10

(Fig. 6)., and. this wheel is given a step by step movement of rotation by the pawl 39 carried by the arm 40. The arm 40 is oscillated by means of a crank 41, to which the arm. 46 is connected by the rod 42, and the crank itself is driven from the shaft 28 through the intermediary of the spur gears 43 and 44, the latter being carried by the stub shaft 45 (Fig. 9) upon which the crank 41 is carried. The throw of the crank is preferably made adjustable, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, in order to vary the feed of the screws 16 and 17 depending on the thickness of the sheets of the pack. This adjustment is accomplished b slotting the crank and mountin the cran pin 46 therein, as illustrated, with looking nuts 47 to hold such pin in adjusted posit1on.- The transverse shaft 35 may also be operated by hand by means of the crank 48 carried on the other end of the shaft Fig. 2), the pawl 39 being disenga ed at suc time.

' The s cots are lifted preliminary to being fed ahead by the magnet 28, by the electromagnets, 49, 49, 49, 49 preferably, but not necessarily four in number arranged with their poles above the corners of the pack as indicated in Fig. 4, such magnets bein car: ried by the bolts 50 extending throug the slots 51 in the cross bars 4 and 5, thus pro viding for the adjustment of the magnets vertically and also laterally to va their lifting effect and to suit sheets of different sizes. The bars 4 and 5 are also mounted for adjustment toward and from each other. The windings of these magnets are energized at timed intervals to lift the sheets of the pack, so that they may be fed forwardly by the rotating magnet '29, at which time the circuit through the windings of the magnets 49 is broken, so that the plate is free to move forward.

In order to romote the separation of the top sheet of t e pack from the sheet next beneath when the magnets 49 act to lift such top sheet, a stop member 52 is employed above the central portion of the top sheet at the extreme rear edge thereof. Thls member is carried by the bar 4 (Fig. 3) and is pressed down yieldingly against the top sheet by the sprin 53. When the magnets 49 are energized, tli sheet are raised, but the stop 52 pressing against the rear edge of the sheet prevents the upward movement of such edge at this point, so that the sheet is flexed by the mag nets instead of being lifted bodily, and the tendency of the air to lift the second sheet with the top sheet is reduced, the pressure of the stop also tending to prevent the second sheet from movin forward with the to sheet when such sheet-is dragged forward by the rotating magnet 29.

A further means for reducing the tendency of the second sheet to lift with the e four corners of the top top sheet is the provision of air blasts directed against the upper ed es of the pack on all four sides'of such pac The air for this purpose is supplied through the two nozzles 54 at the front of the pack (Fig. 1), the four nozzles 55 at the sides of the pack (Fig. 4%, and the four nozzles 56, 56 and '57, 57 i g. 4) at the back of the pack. All of these nozzles with the exception of 56, 56 are supplied with continuous blasts from the air pump 9 driven from the motor 8 by means of the belt 58, suitable piping 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, etc. as illustrated being provided to convey the air to the nozzles. The.

nozzles56, 56 are supplied with intermittent blasts so timed that the air is applied just after the top sheet of the. pack is lifted by the magnets 49, thus providing a body of air tending to support the sheet and facilitate its forward movement. This function is accomplished as indicated in Fig. 7 by the use of a flexible feed pipe 64* and the pinching lever 65 pivoted at 67 and operated by the cam 66" on the rotating shaft 28. The rubber pipe '64 constitutes the connection between the ipe 62 (Figs. 1 and 7) and the pipe 63 to w ich the nozzles 56, 56 are connected. The lever 6 carries an adjustable wearing shoe 69 for engaging the cam 66.

The windings of the lifting magnets 49 are energized intermittently, so that after a sheet is lifted from the pack, it is released from the magnets in order to permit the rotary magnet 29 to carry it forward without any retardation from the lifting magnets. The construction for supplying current to the magnet windings is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8. The rotating shaft 28, which carries the rotating magnet is hollow, and is provided with a sleeve of insulating material at one end, on which are mounted the continuous shoes 70 and 71 and the pair of spaced shoes 72 and 73. The

shoes or collars 70 and 71 are connected by the wires 79 and 80 to the winding of the magnet 29, while the spaced shoes or collars 72 and 73 are each connected by a wire 81 to the wire 80. Three .brush strips, 74, 75 and 7 6 bear against the collars, and other connections 77, 78, 82 and 83 are arranged as illustrated, 77 and 78 being the mains carrying the supply current. Two circuits are in this manner provided, the first, a continuous one through the winding of the rotating magnet 29 and including the brush strip 74, the shoe 70, the Wires 79 and 80, the shoe 71 and the brush strip 75; and the second an interrupted one through the wind ings of the four lifting magnets 49, including the brush strip 74, the shoe 70, the wires 79 and 80, the wires 81 to the sh0es'72 and 73, the brush strip 76, and the wires 83 and 82. A suitable resistance 84 in the connection 7 8' insures that a part of the current from the wire shall pass through the con- .out frictional resistance.

nections 83 and 82 and the windings of the magnets 49 rather than it should all pass through the collar 71 and brush. 75 to the connection 78. y

The method of operating the machine is as follows: The stacks of plates to be coated or lithographed are arranged in large packs,

nections heretofore described and including the ratchet and pawl 38, 39 (Fig. 6) heretofore described. After each lifting step,v

the four magnets 49 are energized to lift the top sheet from the pack. This lifting effect is facilitated by the continuous air blasts from the nozzles 54, 55 and 57 which tend to break the vacuum between the top plate or sheet and the one next below, and this is further from the nozzles ,56, 56 which are applied after the sheet is lifted. The action of the magnets 49 and air blasts is a'priming one, in order to provide a film of air between the top plate and the one next below, so that such top plate may be moved forward with- The make and break device (of Fig. 8) is so timed with respect to the rotating feed magnet that the 7 top plate is lifted by the magnets and released as the tip 31 of the pole of the magnet 29 (moving in a clockwise direction) approaches the vertical position of Fig. 3. The forward edge of the sheet is drawn upward sharply at this moment into contact with the tip 31, and the top sheet (now out of con tact both with. the poles of the'magnets 49 and the sheet. beneath) is carried forward between the feed roll 21 and 22. The pole of the magnet 29 automatically frees itself from the sheet, as the strength ofthis magnetis not sufficient to tilt the plate from its horizontal position. The operation, as just described, is repeated when the other pole tip of the rotating magnet core approaches vertical position, the one rotation of the shaft .28 serving of two sheets, and the make and break of the circuit through the windings of the lift: ing magnets 49, beingtimed accordingly. The same result as to rate of feed mlfiht, of course, beisecured with a feed device aving only'a single feed. pole, by doubling the speed of rotat on of the shaft 35 carrying the magnet, or by increasing the number of magnets on the shaft 28 and decreasin its speed of rotation. The number of 11 tm magnets might also be increased or decrease under varying conditions, although the num,

augmented. by the air blasts to secure the feeding her shown and described, constitutes the'preferred arrangement. All of the magnet poles may be coated or plated with a nonmagnetic material to prevent any adherence to the plates.

After the pack 10 has been exhausted, the pawl 39 is released from the ratchet wheel 38, the empty base is removed from the machine, and the screws 16 and 17 are run backward fromthe hand crank 48 to bring the lifting brackets 13 again to-their lower most position, when a new base carrying a pack of plates is positioned on such brackets, and the operation as heretofore described is repeated. g

The machine may be operated so as to feed much more rapidly than is possible by hand,

and only a fractionof the time of one attendant is required to keep' the machine in operation. By using the standard bases and constructing the machine so as to receive them through the open side, a ack ofmaximum vertical dimension may suppliedto the machine at one time, and with slight effort on the part of the operator, as standard trucks .can be shoved beneath the bases carrying the stacks, and no lifting of the stacks is required after they are placedon the bases. By proper adjustment ofthe magnets and the mechanism cooperating therew1th, a feed is secured which is positive and reliable, only a single plate being fed at a time and the plates in the pack below the top one are not subject to lateral movement from their proper positions, this result being due in a considerable degree to the 'manipu l'ation' of the air blasts as heretofore explained, and to the use of the stop member;

52 which holds downthe top plate at its rear edge and causes the flexing of such top plate underthe infiuence'of the lifting magnets and preliminary tothe forward'feed of the plate. A further advantage ineident'to the use of the apparatus, isthe fact that the contact of the plates with th'egelectro magnetic devices is relatively light and no marrin'g of the surfaces of I e sheets results.

The rotating magnet 29 with 'ts spaced feed-- ing poles arranged to strik the sheets at their extreme. forward edges rovides a positive feed, incident to the im act effect, and 1 at the same time, reduces any markin eifect to a minimum andproduces such mar ing at a location on the sheets where itdoes-no harm. Other advantages of the construction will beapparent art. l What I claim is:

to those skilled in the 1. The combination-with a vertical feed ing device for a pack'of plates and feed members In advance of such device, of feed means comprising electromagnetic lifting means above the pack, a rotatingmagnet also located above the forward portionof the pack and having a pole extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the magnet and adapted by its rotation to strike the plate lifted from the pack by said lifting means and feed it forwardly, and

automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing said electro-magnetic means.

2. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising electromagnetic lifting means above the pack, a driven axle above the pack exending transversely of the forward end thereof, a plurality of magnets mounted thereon with their poles spaced apart and extendin radially with respect to said axle for striking the plates and moving them forwardly after they are lifted by said lifting means, and automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing said electromagnetic means.

3. The combination with a vertical feed ing device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of lifting means adapted to operate at timed inter vals to apply lifting force from above tov successively lift the top sheets from the pack and *release them, and a rotating magnet also located above the forward portion of the pack and having a pole extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the magnet, the rotation of the magnet being so timed that it will engage the top plate to mean feed it forward when said lifting relefise said sheet after lifting it from the p 4. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and. feed members in advance of such device and an electric circuit, of feed means comprising a pair of electromagnetic lifting devices in operative relation to said circuit and .located above therear portion of the pack adjacent theside 'edges thereof, .a stop device also above the rear portion of the pack but adjacent the central portion thereofto maintain the central portion of the top sheet at a lower level than its side edges when it is lifted by said devices, a rotatin magnet also located above the pack adapte?- by its rotation to feed the top plate of the pack forwardly, and automatic means for intermittentlymaking and breaking the circuit energizing said electromagnetic means.

5. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and-feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising electromagnetic lifting means. above the pack and an electric circuit for energizing said electro-magneticlifting means, a rotatin magnet also located above ing the circuit energizing said electromagmeans, a rotating magnet also netic means, and means intermittently apply ing blasts of air beneath the top sheets of the pack as they are successively lifted by said electromagnetic means.

6. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising electromagnetic lifting means above the pack and an electric circuit for energizing said electro-magnetic lifting means, a rotating magnet also located above the pack adapted by its rotation to feed the top plate of the pack forwardly, automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing said electromagnetic means, and means for con against the edges of the sheets at the upper portion of the stack.

7. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising electromagnetic lifting means above the pack and an electric circuit for energizing said electromagnetic lifting means, a rotating magnet also located above the pack adapted by the rotation to feed the top plate of the pack forwardly, automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing said electromagnetic means, means for continuously applying air under pressure against the edges of the sheets at the upper portion of the pack, and means intermittently applying blasts of air beneath the top sheets of .the pack as-they are successively lifted by feed. device open on one sideto permit a truck carrying a base with a pack of plates thereon to be moved into position beneath said feed device, elevating means carried by the framework adapted to lift the base and pack from the truck, and automatic means operating in timed relation with feed device for lifting the pack step by step as the sheets are removed from the top of the pack.

9. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising electromagnetic lifting 'means above the for energizing said electro-ma netic lifting located above the pack adapted by its rotation to feed the top plate of the pack forwardly, and automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing said electromagnetic means, timed so that "the.

ack and an electric circuit tinuously applying airv under pressure axis of rotation.

lifted from the pack by said electro-magnets' and feed it forwardly, and. automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing the windings of the said electromagnets, the said. rotating magnet having its pole arranged radially with re spect-to its axis of rotation. I

'11. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising an electromagnet above each corner of the top plate of the pack and an electric circuit for energizing said electromagnets, a rotating constantly energized magnet also located above the (pack adjacent the forward edge thereof an adapted by its rotation to strike the plate lifted from the pack ofsaid electro-magnets and feed it forwardly, and automatic means for intermittently makin and breaking the circuit energizing the windin of the said electromagnets, the said rotating magnet having its pole arranged radially with respect to its 12. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprisin an electroma net above each corner of t e top plate 0 the pack and an electric circuit for energizing said electromagnets, a rotating constantly energized magnet also located above the pack adapted by its rotation to strike the plate lifted from the pack by said electro-magnets and feed it forwardly, and automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing the windings of the said 'electromagnets, timed so that the electromagnets release thelifted top plate before it is engaged and fed forward y by the rotating magnet, the said rotating magnet having its pole arranged radially with respect to its axis of rotation. I

13. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising electromagnetic lifting means above the packand an electric circuit for energizing said elect-ro-magnetic lifting means, a rotating magnet also located above the pack adapted by its rotation to feed the top plate of the pack forwardly, automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing said e1ectro-.

magnetic means, and means intermittently applying blasts of air beneath the top sheets of the pack as they are successively lifted by said electromagnetic means, the said means forintermittently applying the blasts of air including a flexible supply pi e and automatic means for pinching suc pipe and releasing it at timed intervals.

14. The combination with a vertical feeding device for a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising electromagnetic lifting means above the pack and an electric'circuit for energizing said electro-magnetic lifting means, a rotating magnet. also located above the pack adapted by its rotation to feed the top plate of the pack forwardly, automatic means for intermittently making and breaking the circuit energizing said electromagnet1c means, and means intermittently applying blasts of air beneath the top sheets of the pack as they are successively lifted by said electromagnetic means, the said means for intermittently applying the blasts of air including a flexible supply pipe and such pi and releasing it at timed intervals.

15. e combination with a vertical feeding devicefor a pack of plates and feed members in advance of such device, of feed means comprising a pair of electromagnetic lifting devices above. the rear portion of the pack adjacent the side edges thereof, an

electric circuit for energizing said lifting devices a holding member located above the extreme rear portion of the ack at the central portion thereof arranged to hold the central portion of the top sheet down against the sheet of the pack next beneath when the side edges of such top plate are lifted, a

magnet also located above the rotatin pack a apted by its rotation to feed the top plate of the pack forwardly, and automatic means for intermittently making and break-' cam actuated automatic means for pinching ing the circuit energizing said electro-magnetic lifting devices.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed 1924.

GHABLES smear.

my name this 20th day of Now,- 

